Ninth Ward

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. What are the defining characteristics of a hurricane? How do hurricanes compare to other kinds of storms? What major hurricanes can you recall hearing about in the news or in history? When a hurricane occurs, what images are likely on TV/media?

Teaching Suggestion: Students may mention characteristics like fierce wind, rotation, size, duration, and intensity; they might recall from science class that a hurricane forms over warm ocean water, using the water vapor as “fuel.” Students might name memorable storms like Hurricanes Ida (2021), Irma and Maria (2017), Sandy (2012), Katrina and Rita (2005), Andrew (1992), and the Galveston Hurricane of 1900 for their loss of property and life. Common images from hurricane coverage that students might share include wind-stricken weather reporters, flying debris, storm surge, flooding, first responders, “spaghetti models” of potential paths, and radar images of the spinning cloud and eye. Mentions of images of evacuations of families and special help for the elderly, the infirm, or children connect to one of the novel’s central themes, Gratitude for Support and Help from Loved Ones.